BNC, MSI Ham Type Herstal-class inshore minesweepers - Lightly armed specialised craft.

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The MSI Ham Type Herstal-class inshore minesweepers formed a critical part of Belgium’s Cold War mine warfare fleet. Built between 1958 and 1959 at the Mercantile Marine Yard in Kruibeke, Belgium, sixteen vessels of the MSI class were constructed to secure Belgium’s shallow waters, rivers, and estuaries. Their wooden hulls and non-magnetic fittings allowed them to operate safely against contact, acoustic, and magnetic mines. Armed with either a twin 12.7 mm Browning heavy machine gun or a twin 20 mm Oerlikon mount, they were modestly armed but highly specialized for mine countermeasure operations. Their importance lay not in firepower but in ensuring naval security in heavily mined coastal environments during the Cold War era (Dragueurs de mines belges de type MSI, 2023).

TL;DR: A light Belgian-built Cold War minehunter class (MSI), armed with twin 12.7 mm or 20 mm guns, specialized in inshore and estuarine mine warfare.

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M477 Oudenaarde – preserved MSI-class minehunter.

History

History

In the aftermath of World War II, Belgium inherited and operated a number of Allied-built minesweepers, including the U.S. AMS “Adjutant” class. By the late 1950s, these vessels were heavily worn and new ships were required to patrol Belgium’s shallow coastal zones and river estuaries (Masset & Grimbergs, 2015).

To replace them, Belgium ordered sixteen inshore minesweepers of the MSI Ham Type Herstal Class, constructed at the Mercantile Marine Yard in Kruibeke between 1958–1959. Their role was to sweep contact, acoustic, and magnetic mines between depths of 4–10 meters, ideal for the Zeeschelde, North Sea banks, and Belgian harbors (Hofkens, 2021; Jalon, 2010).

The ships were built largely from oak and other woods, with non-ferromagnetic fittings to minimize risk from magnetic mines. Each ship had a crew of 14: two officers, four petty officers, and eight conscripts or professional sailors (Van Beylen et al., 1972).

Their primary function was defensive: securing shipping lanes, approaches to ports, and inland waters. Belgium operated the class until the late 1980s, with the last ship, M477 Oudenaarde, preserved as a museum vessel in Antwerp (Gleissner, 2023).

Notable Example – M477 Oudenaarde

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  • Laid down: 03 May 1958
  • Commissioned: 25 April 1959
  • Decommissioned: 1988
  • Preserved: Steen Maritime Museum, Antwerp

M477 represents the last intact and preserved example of the class, maintained by Belgian heritage groups.

Specifications

Displacement: 160 t standard, 190 t full load
Length/Beam/Draught: 34.5 m / 6.7 m / 2.1 m
Propulsion: 2 × Nuove Reggiane TVG29 diesels, 2 shafts, 1260 hp
Speed: 15 knots
Range: 2,300 nm @ 10 knots
Crew: 14 (2 officers, 4 petty officers, 8 sailors)

Armament Variants:

Version Weapons
Early 1 × twin 12.7 mm Browning HMG
Alternate 1 × twin 20 mm Oerlikon AA gun

Mine Warfare Gear: Acoustic, magnetic, and mechanical sweeps for shallow waters (4–10 m)
Construction: Wooden hull with non-magnetic fittings

Diagram

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Place in War Thunder

Regarding nations

BeNeLux

These vessels would be ideal for the BeNeLux coastal fleet, offering early-rank Cold War mine warfare ships with modest defensive armament. Their armament is light, but their unique design and heritage make them suitable for collectors and historical gameplay.

Alternatively, as the BeNeLux subtree is attached to France, they could appear there as premium or event ships.

Pictures

Pictures

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M477 Oudenaarde preserved in Antwerp

MSI Class Inshore Minesweepers:

  1. M470 Temse – Sold to South Korea in 1970:
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  2. M471 Hasselt – Transferred to Belgian Sea Cadet Corps in 1993:
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  3. M472 Kortrijk – Decommissioned in 1989 (note the oval 12.7 mm shield):
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  4. M473 Lokeren – Decommissioned in 1987:
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  5. M474 Turnhout – Decommissioned in 1991:
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  6. M475 Tongeren – Decommissioned in 1991:
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  7. M476 Merksem – Decommissioned in 1992:
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  8. M477 Oudenaarde – Decommissioned in 1989:
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  9. M478 Herstal – Decommissioned in 1991:
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  10. M479 Huy – Decommissioned in 1990:
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  11. M480 Seraing – Decommissioned in 1990:
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  12. M481 Tournai – Sold to South Korea in 1970:
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  13. M482 Visé – Decommissioned in 1991:
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  14. M483 Ougrée – Decommissioned in 1992; civilian ownership on the River Medway, Chatham, Kent, England (2007):
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  15. M484 Dinant – Decommissioned in 1992:
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  16. M485 Andenne – Decommissioned in 1991:
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Sources

Sources

Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed 2025: M477 Oudenaarde [online], M477 Oudenaarde | Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed (geraadpleegd op 26 augustus 2025).

Anrys, H., De Decker de Brandeken, J.-M., & Eygenraam, P. (1992). De zeemacht: van de admiraliteit van Vlaanderen tot de Belgische zeemacht. Tielt.

Dragueurs de mines belges de type MSI. (2023). Wikipedia. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragueurs_de_mines_belges_de_type_MSI

Gleissner, J. (2023). MSI Oudenaarde wordt paradeschip van Maritiem Patrimonium MPM. Ruimschoots, 23(3).

Hofkens, L. (2021). Officiële eigendomsoverdracht van de mijnenveger M477 Oudenaarde. Ruimschoots, 22(1).

Jalon, R. (2010). De MSI 477 “Oudenaarde” in de watten gelegd door een enthousiaste ploeg vrijwilligers. Ruimschoots, 10(4).

Masset, F., & Grimbergs, E. (2015). MSI M477 Oudenaarde. Ruimschoots, 15(3), 21–23.

NavSource Naval History. (2023). Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/0583.htm

Van Beylen, J., et al. (1972). Maritieme Encyclopedie (Vol. 5). Bussum.

Belgian Navy Forum. (n.d.). MSI mine sweeper inshore. Archived at: https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.belgian-navy.be%2Ff13-msi-mine-sweeper-inshore

Belgian MSC/MSI Archive. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbelgian-msc-msi.doomby.com%2F